Ford Focus Electric - Wow! - Anybody Else Know?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
That's a very limited range
Originally Posted By: EdwardC
Very nice!! I didn't even know they made an all electric Focus. I drove a rental Focus and really liked it, at least a lot more than the other rentals cars I've had in the past. Definitely let us know about the range, any range anxiety and charging methods. Do you have or need a 220 outlet in the garage (maybe even 480?)? Or is 120 enough for your needs? Probably at least a 220 for recharging 70mi/evening.


It is a bit low for a lot of people. Should do perfect for me, just commuting and errands, at most I'll probably put 50 miles per day on it.

Right now I just have a plain slow 120v standard trickle charger. It needs 12 hours to go from 1/4 charge to full that way. Later I could get a 220v outlet (dryer line next to garage) and the car will get a full charge in 4 hours that way.
 
Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Whats the quick charge time?

If I could get 12,500 back I might consider an E-Golf or i3 (Id have to import the golf from another state).


E-Golfs are not available in Colorado yet. BMW I3's are expensive. Teslas of course too. This one costs me $15k after government cash and Ford cash rebates, so its good for non-tycoons.
 
Look at Clipper Creek for chargers. Your E-Focus can charge at 6.6 Kw rate, but the car may pull more than that under ideal conditions.

I think Clipper Creek makes a 7.7 Kw charger...

Try to preheat / precool the car before driving.
Usually set via dashboard or web site, then you have a warm / cool car and 100% battery, because you got the interior to operating temps while plugged in..
 
Originally Posted By: Burt
My tax dollars at work. You're welcome.



I think it's tax money well spent too. It sure beats spending trillions on foreign wars in an effort to secure oil.
 
Wait a minute, this is breaking the rules of electric vehicles. Rule #1: Electric Car must look totally wierd and ugly so people know its electric.

Cool car!
 
Originally Posted By: Burt
My tax dollars at work. You're welcome.

I know! I was going to mention that. Thank-you. I know how you feel. Always felt I overpaid (progressive tax system) on taxes, yet now I feel like a freeloader. A no-gasoline freeloader here.
 
Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
Look at Clipper Creek for chargers. Your E-Focus can charge at 6.6 Kw rate, but the car may pull more than that under ideal conditions.

I think Clipper Creek makes a 7.7 Kw charger...

Try to preheat / precool the car before driving.
Usually set via dashboard or web site, then you have a warm / cool car and 100% battery, because you got the interior to operating temps while plugged in..


You're right, the "pre-conditioning" is activated remote-start from the key fob, tried it, and it doesn't draw battery down while charging of course. Great thing.

Thanks for the tip on charging. I'm just now learning all the options. "Level 2" is from 220v, and 4 hours is the most it takes. 120v is temporarily adequate. All the Walgreens around town have a Level 2 to pay with a charge card I think, in case charge runs low, avoiding a tow! Should be extremely rare with normal errands.
 
If your range of use is limited, and you're willing to spend the money, who cares about the naysayers. You're adopting tech that benefits everyone in the long run, because while the liquid fuel paradigm is ever going away, IMO, Carnot will be marginalized by other tech where more electric platforms will be the norm. Good for you.

I'd avoid excess draw. High rates and parasitic increase the losses. The colder you can keep the battery, the slower the calendar agring due to chemical side reactions.

Low rate charging is more inconvenient, but low rate charge is better as it keeps over-potentials low which minimizes electrolyte oxidation and SEI growth.
 
You're right i3 are expensive, but If I bought a new car, I would probably buy a fairly expensive one anyway. (Maybe even a BMW Since I'm a card carrying member). E-Golf availability is not slated for GA at all. Not sure about the Mercedes.

There is actually a guy in my neighborhood with and i3 or at least that occasionally checks the mail at a house in my neighborhood... The main attraction to it is the Range Extender, though I suspect that might exclude it from tax breaks.

Anyway, sorry for the derail...

I believe if more people were really honest with themselves about usage and with just a little planning, a lot more folks would see that an electric car could do most of their use. I've talked to a number of owners who say they don't know why they didn't do it before. But they all do say you need access to an ICE occasionally whether you own it or rent one. 70 miles range would do 90-95% of my daily non company activity.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
If your range of use is limited, and you're willing to spend the money, who cares about the naysayers. You're adopting tech that benefits everyone in the long run, because while the liquid fuel paradigm is ever going away, IMO, Carnot will be marginalized by other tech where more electric platforms will be the norm. Good for you.

I'd avoid excess draw. High rates and parasitic increase the losses. The colder you can keep the battery, the slower the calendar agring due to chemical side reactions.

Low rate charging is more inconvenient, but low rate charge is better as it keeps over-potentials low which minimizes electrolyte oxidation and SEI growth.


You know your batteries! I was wondering if Nissan's warning to Leaf owners to avoid plugging in the charger when there is more than 80% in there applies to the brand of battery in the Ford Focus Electric? .... I see your point about cold batteries, and here in Colorado it can nearly get TOO cold for them. Certainly slow-charging might be great here like you say.
 
Originally Posted By: Astro14
So, how does an electric reduce your MPG? I thought an electric would reduce your gasoline consumption...thus increasing your miles per gallon?.

I typed that in wrong, I meant it uses zero gasoline, so increases MPG, reduces fuel use to zero. Coal, natural gas, wind, solar, hydro etc.
 
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah

Please keep us informed on how it works for you. Also how much it costs in electricity.


I can predict how much: We pay 12.31 cents per kWH electricity rates here.
Assuming I will have to charge half the Focus battery up every night, thats 12 kWH per day for driving 30 miles, typical for me per day. 12 kWH x 0.1231 = $1.47 per day.
A Ford Focus gas model with the smallest ecoboost 1.0L (yes, not a misprint, they really do put a 1.0L displacement engine in some Focuses) turbo will get 32 MPG combined city/hiway EPA rating, which does match my driving too here. Therefore, its like I'm paying $1.47 x 32/30 = $1.57/gallon for gasoline, and currently (not forever) gasoline goes for $1.89 per gallon around here, not really much savings.

I think we have to factor in the fun-to-drive aspect of the Focus Electric, and the reduced maintenance costs, higher reliability of no gas motor. And sticking it to the world oil market which funds ISIS, wahhabism, etc. counts for something.

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
I hate that these vehicles can not stand on their own no matter what the mission the owners have.

I'm an engineer so I appreciate the fact that engineers are allowed to perfect the tech with electric cars for now, and boosts are gradually added to get charging stations, etc. So it has a role. National policy.
 
Nice car. I'd totally buy one. I used to have access to a number of Ford hybrids (Fusions and Escapes), and it was my game to see how much I could drive on electric power. The technology aspect of hybrids interest me, and something like a Leaf or an E-Focus like this also interests me. It certainly works only for certain situations. If you work at home or work close to the office, it's a great option.
 
My round trip commute is 9 miles. My doctor, pharmacy, grocery and a few restaurants are within a mile of work. I'm very interested in an electric car. I could go a few days on a charge.

Your car looks great! Keep us updated.
 
Hokiefyd, Ford does have a decent reputation with Fusions and Escapes, the Escape Hybrids long being popular in NYC taxicabs for example.

whip, that sounds like a lot people's "gettin around" needs. Nothing really too far. Focus Electric or Nissan Leaf will get you 60 miles a day tops, plenty for work and errands for most.
Mine, I could probably go 2 days on a charge. Its like a cell phone you routinely plug in overnight.
 
I think these likely would work for more people than their sales figures show but, at the same time, they're really only good as a second car. Sure, most of my driving might be around town at 50 miles a day or less. But if I need to go to Raleigh, and this is my only car, I need to go rent something.

I think that's where the Chevy Volt makes a lot of sense for single folks who have one car. It's primarily electric, but it does have provisions to charge itself if you have to go outside of your normal range.

I think that's what makes all-electrics tough sells -- if you can have only one car, they're pretty limiting. Great as a second or an extra vehicle, though.
 
Great pick up!! Will AAA tow you if you run out a charge?? How about a small generator for emergencies....
Vw electrics on TV here in NY for a great price...
Focus nice car that can haul people and cargo...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

9
  • Locked
2012 Ford Focus Electric...discuss.
2
Replies
25
Views
9K
Cujet
L
  • Locked
Ford Focus Electric Price Announced
Replies
5
Views
1K
tommygunn
D
  • Locked
Exxon Mobil
Replies
19
Views
16K
MolaKule
Back
Top Bottom